Vaccination clinics are planned for Monday through Friday next week at the Chedoke Twin-pad Arena, but with the shortage looming, there is a chance some of them could be cancelled.

Ontario is supposed to receive about 700,000 doses per week of the vaccine, but now it is only getting about 170,000 doses, said Dr. Nith Tran, an associate medical officer of health.

As of Wednesday, Hamilton had only received about 81,500 doses of the vaccine, far less than is needed for the city’s estimated 500,000 population.

“It doesn’t cover even our first group,” said Dr. Tran. He said Hamilton public health officials will be looking to the province for direction, including whether or not to keep its four flu clinics open next week.

Clinics next week are planned for Dundas Baptist Church Monday through Thursday, while clinics at Chedoke, Jackson Square and St. Hellen's elementary school in the east end from Monday through Friday. All clinics run 1-7 p. m.

In the face of a potential shortage, city officials were more stringent this week in giving flu shots only to people in the high-priority groups.

He also urged people to continue to conduct safe procedures including coughing into your arm, washing hands, and if you feel sick to stay home from work or school.

Hamilton is expecting a smaller shipment of vaccine this week, but it is unknown how much of the vaccine it will get, he said.

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s long lines at its vaccine clinics slowly dissipated this week as the city opened more clinics, and concentrated on giving the flu shots to only those people in the high-priority groups. Instead of eight clinics operating, the city had 18.

On the first day of clinics, Oct. 29, up to 2,000 lined up for shots.

When Vanessa Scheepers arrived around 1:30 p. m., the line was already heading down Chedmac Drive. By the looks of it, the mother of two and her mom appeared to be in for a three-hour wait. At least.

“It's daunting,” said Ms. Scheepers. “But I'll stay.”

Up until the previous weekend, she had been on the fence about getting the shot and immunizing her two-year-old daughter.

But the death of 13-year-old Evan Frustaglio, who died Oct. 26 after exhibiting flu-like symptoms at a hockey tournament the previous day, pushed her to rethink her stance.

“When that boy died, everyone panicked,” said Ms. Scheepers, and that’s what led to the huge line at clinics around the province.

There are 33 people in Hamilton with the virus in hospital with eight in the ICU.